Cutting mechanism for cigarette-machines.



. I. M. HORNADAY.

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1914.

1L J$$fifim Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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IHE NORRIS PETERS o0. PHOTU-LITHOV. WASHINGTON. D C.

J. M. HORNADAY.-

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.3,19|4.

Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ. wAsHmmwv. D C.

JAMES M. HORNADAY, OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR T0 LIGGETT 8tMYERS TOBACCO COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MIS$OURL A COREOBATION OF NEWJERSEY.

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915..

Application filed March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HORNADAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Durham, in the county of Durham and State of North Carolina,have invented new and useful Improvements in Cutting Mechanism forfiigarette-ll/lachines, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cigarette making machines ofthe continuous rod type, and particularly to the cut-off mechanism forsevering the rod into cigarette lengths, and has as its primary objectto provide a light simple direct acting mechanism, free of all lateralor torsional strains whereby greater speed may be attained with betterresults than heretofore.

By means of the novel construction and arrangement herein shown anddescribed, the longitudinal and angular movements of the several partsare imparted by power applied respectively in the longitudinal axialline of the reciprocating supporting member, and around said axis as acenter. The power thus applied being direct, friction is lessened,strains eliminated, the parts made lighter, the power required to runthe mechanism decreased, and the possible speed of the machinematerially increased.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cut-off mechanism.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional viewon the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line H. 5is a perspective view of a clamp block forming a part of the invention.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a portion of the stationary main frame ofa continuous rod cigarette machine upon which frame two bearings 11 arerigidly mounted in spaced relation lengthwise of the machine to sustainopposite ends of a longitudinally reciprocating bar or slide 12 whichcarries the entire rod cutting mechanism. The central portion of the bar12 is preferably circular in cross section, as shown, with ends 13, 14of a shape other than circular. In the present embodiment these ends aresquare and slide in similarly shaped bearings or guides 11; they mayhowever be oval, hexagonal or of other form to prevent rotation of thebar in its bearings. These guides 11 preferably have a geometrical axiscoinciding with the longitudinal axis of the bar or slide. A lug 15projects from one end 13 of the bar 12to which is pivoted a connectingrod 16 operated by an eccentric 17 on a continuously revolving shaft 18.A crank or other equivalent means may be substituted for the eccentricif found more suitable. The pivot 19 of the connecting rod 16 passesthrough the lug 15 in the longitudinal center of the bar 12, its axisand the axis of shaft 18 intersecting the axis of said bar at rightangles, thus enabling the bar to be moved in its bearings by a directpull and thrust, free from side or torsional strains. Mounted to swingangularly about the axis of the bar on the round portion thereof is aframe or arm 20 carrying a circular, disk-like knife 21. The frame 20,in the form shown, consists of two tubular parts 22 that surround thecentral portion of the bar 12 and are retained in position thereonagainst endwise movement by two fixed collars 23, 24. From each tubularpart a leg 25 extends up ward and these legs are connected at theirupper ends by a flat circular plate 26 upon which a like plate 27 restsand is clamped thereto by a through bolt 28. From the plate 27 a bracket29 extends that supports a long two-part tubular bearing 30, 31,integral with the bracket 29, in which revolves a shaft 32 with a beltpulley 33 at one end andthe circular knife 21 on the other end. As thussupported, the frame 20 with the circular knife 21 can rock freely in anangular direction on the bar 12 around its longitudinal axis.

Mounted rigidly but adjustably upon the bar 12 and movablelongitudinally therewith is a tubular guide 34 for sustaining thecigarette rod while being cut into cigarette lengths. The guide, in thisform of the invention, comprises a body 35 through which is made ahorizontal perforation running parallel with the axis of bar 12 andintersected by a slot 36 at right angles to the perforation into and outof which the cutting edge of the circular knife is adapted to swing. Thebody 35 is firmly connected to the upper end of a stem 37 mounted at itslower end in a clamp block 38 which in turn is clamped on the circularportion of the bar 12 near the rectangular end 14. The clamp block hastwo holes 39, 40, extending therethrough at a right angle to each otherthrough which holes the bar 12 and stem 37 pass. Slots 11, 42', extendrespectively from one side of each of said holes outwardly and by meansof bolts 43, a l, spanning said slots, the clamp block is gripped on thebar 12 and to the stem 37. Projecting from the perforation in the body35 on one side thereof is a flaring or conical mouthpiece 45 into whichthe cigarette rod enters and, passing through the body 35 and into atubular support 46 extending from the perforation therein on its otherside, is cut into lengths by the vibratory movement of the circularknife 21. A steel bushing 47 projects into the slot 36. of the body 35and has a hole therethrough for the cigarette rod to pass, said bushingcooperating with the circular knife to make'clean sharp cuts through thecigarette rod. Because of the novel construction ofthe clamp block- 38,the tubular guide 3r'may be adjusted, in every possible direction,vertically, horizontally, and angularly about the axis of the bar 12 andstem 37. The knife 21 may also be adjusted relatively-to the tubularguide by loosening. the bolts28, 57 and turning the'circular plate 27.

Vibratory movement is imparted to. the

rocking frame 20 and circular knife 21 from ashaft 18 and eccentric 4:9thereon the peripheral surface of which is made with a convex curvaturein the direction of its axis,

and is fitted with a strap 50, the inner face of which has a similarconcave curvature to permit the strap rocking laterally on theeccentric. A bar 51 projects from the eccentric' strap, in the end ofwhich is formed a socket 52 for a stem 53 adjustable therein and fixedafter adjustment by a screw bolt 54:. The stem 38 is connected to ablock 55 by'a horizontal pivot 56, said block in turn being pivoted onthe upper circular plate 27 of the frame 20 by a bolt 57.

Constructed as described, with the shafts 18 and 48 geared to move atproperrelative speeds, the bar 12 carrying-the cutter 21 and tubularguide 34 will be reciprocated longitudinally in the axial line of saidbar by the eccentric 17-on shaft 18', at the same time, the frame 20"and cutte will be rocked angularly' about the axis of said bar,by'eccentric "19, the eccentric strap 50 moving laterally on theeccentric under the longitudinal reciprocation of the frame 20. Themovement of the bar- 12 in the direction of travel of the cigarette rodwill, for a portion of the distance,be at the same'speed as the rod, andit is at this time that the knife will advance to cut the rod and thenrecede to allow said rod to move through the guide on thereturn movementof the bar 12, a distance sufficient for another cigarette.

Attention is called to the fact that the power for reciprocating the bar12, upon which all the moving parts are carried, is in the exact axallineof'said bar, and furthermore, that the roclnng frame supportingthe ing parts owing to the fact that all lateral or torsional strainsare eliminated, which in present devices must be provided for; and byreason of the simple, and light construction and direct movements of theoperating parts, the cutting mechanism can be driven at the highestspeed without jarring or in any way interfering with the other functionsof the cigarette machine.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, alongitudinally movable supporting member, an actuating member having apivotal connection with said supporting member for impartingreciprocating movement thereto, the axis of said pivotal connectionintersecting the central longitudinal axis of said supporting member, acutter arranged to move longitudinally with said supporting member, andmeans for rocking said cutter about said central axis while moving withsaid supporting member.

2. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, a longitudinally movablesupporting memher, acutter supported thereby and arranged to movelongitudinally with said supporting member, means for applying a thrustforce to said supporting member in opposite directions actinglongitudinally of said supporting member at a point in the longitudinalaxial line of said supporting member for reciprocating the same, andmeans for rocking said cutter about said central axis while moving withsaid supporting member.

3. In a cut-off mechanism, in combination, a slide, a cutter, asupporting arm for said cutter having an axis of rotation on said slide,a guide for said slide, said guide having a geometrical axis coincidingwith said first named axis, means for applying a thrust force to saidslide in opposite directions acting longitudinally of said slide at apoint on the coincident axes to reciprocate said slide, and means forrocking said= arm and cutter while said! slide is moving.

4*. In a cut-off mechanism, a longitudinally movable supporting member,means for imparting reciprocating movement thereto having a pivotalconnection with said supporting member, the axis of said pivotalconnection intersecting the central longitudinal axis of said supportingmemher, a tubular guide for the article to be cut, a revolving cutterco-acting with said guide, a frame carrying said cutter mounted on saidsupporting: member and movable thereon, and means for rocking saidcutterangularly about said central axis while moving longitudinally thereof.

5. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spacedguides, a supporting bar mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in saidguides, a cigarette rod guide rigidly connected to said bar, a revolvingcutter mounted on said bar between said guides to reciprocate With thebar and rock independently thereof, means for reciprocating said bar andthe cutter having a pivotal connection with said bar, said pivotalconnection having its axis in the central axial line of said bar, andmeans for rocking said cutter angularly about the said axis.

6. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spacedguides, a supporting bar mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in saidguides, a cigarette rod guide rigidly connected to said bar, a revolublecutter, a swinging frame carrying said cutter mounted on said barbetween said guides to reciprocate with the bar and rock independentlythereof to carry the cutter to and from said rod guide, means forreciprocating said bar and cutter having a connection with said bar atthe end of said bar, and means for rocking said cutter carrying frame onthe bar angularly about the same axis.

7. In a cut-off mechanism for cigarette machines, in combination a pairof spaced guides, a supporting bar having angular portions thereonslidable longitudinally in said guides, and an intermediate portioncircular in cross section, a frame mounted on said intermediate portionto move longitudinally with said bar and rock trans- &

versely thereon, a revoluble cutter carried by and movable with saidframe, a cigarette rod guide adjustably mounted on said supporting bar,means for reciprocating said bar, cutter and guide having a connectionfor actuating the bar attached at the end of said bar, and means forrocking said cutter carrying frame on the bar angularly about said axisto swing said cutter to and from said cigarette guide.

8. In a cut-0E mechanism for cigarette machines, a pair of spacedguides, a supporting bar round near its middle portion with ends ofother shape slidable longitudinally in said guides, a frame mounted onthe middle portion of said bar to move longitudinally therewith and rocktransversely thereon, a revoluble cutter carried by and movable withsaid frame, a cigarette rod guide, a clamp adjustable on the center ofsaid bar and adjustably supporting said guide, means for reciprocatingsaid bar, cutter and guide acting upon said bar at a point in line withthe axial center of said bar attached to the bar at the end thereof, andmeans for rocking said cutter-carrying frame on the bar angularly aboutsaid axis to swing the cutter to and from said cigarette guide.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. HORNADAY. Witnesses:

W. FLowERs, H. E. WHITE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

